Bringing in Baby

Early, regular prenatal healthcare is a must for mothers and babies during pregnancy. Mom (and Dad!) get to discuss all the important issues with their health care providers, from nutrition and what to expect during birth, to basic skills for caring for your newborn. Typically, expectant mothers should visit their healthcare professionals once a month for the first six months, once every two weeks during the seventh and eighth months, and weekly in the last month before delivery.

If you are 35 or older, or have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other health problems, your healthcare provider may want to see you more often. She may even suggest prenatal testing to screen for Down syndrome and other common genetic disorders, inherited family conditions, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or disorders like sickle cell anemia, prevalent among African Americans.